Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-04-09

Councilman from tho First Ward,
thought there was some crooked bust.
ness in letting the contract, and so ex.
pressed himself in the Council. The
Mayor, who is very careful, refused to
sign the contract and asked that a com.
nlttee Of investigation be appointed
This was done and Councilmen Breed,
Collins and Jones were selected to ferret
out the crookedness, and they were
given the assistance of the Mayor. The
committee met Thursday, but neither
side being ready, there was an adjourn.
ment taken until Saturday at 2 o'clock
P. M.
sTEARNs' CHARGES.
Councilman Stearns yesterday in.
formed q HERALD man that he had
formulated and had prepared the fol-
lowing charges, which he will present to
the committee to-day:
To the Honorable, the Council-In the
matter of the Kuhrts Street Bridge
contract:
A committee having been appointed
by your honorable body for the purpose
OF investigating as to the truth of certain
charges made by the Mayor of this city,
in his communication of Monday, April
4th, and said charges having been
based on a statement made by the un-
dersigned. Now for the purpose of said
investigation, prefer charges Of collu-
sion, on the part of the several persons
hereinafter named, and as hereinafter
set forth, for the purpose of defrauding
the City of Los Angeles, in the matter OF
the letting Of the contract for the fur
nishing of the materials 10 be used in
the construction of that certain bridge
over the Los Angeles river, known as
the Kuhrts street bridge, in
the city of Los Angeles. and
of consplring together to defraud
said city, and obtain from said city
by means of fraudulent and false state.
ments, figures and representations as to
the cost of construction, amount OF and
value of material to he used and labor
required in the construction OF said
bridge, large sums of money, greatly in
excess of the true value Of such material,
the quality of materials required for the
construction of said bridge, and in ex.
cess of the true value OF such bridge
when constructed to the amount of
hve Thousand (S0UUU) dollars.
That by reason OF the said persons as
hereinafter named and as hereinafter set
forth-conspiring together with the in
tent to defraud, and to obtain from said
city by means of said fraudulent and
false statements, figures and representa-.
tions the'sum of five thousand ($500O)
dollars, and that by reason of said per-
sons SO conspirIng, and by their fraudu-
lent and false statements, figures and
representations made to the Council of
said city and to the persons who consti.
tute and as Councilmen make up the
Council OF said city, and for the purpose
and with intent to induce idCouncilmen
to vote at the meeting of the Council in
favor of the awarding of the contract,
and to induce the Council of said city to
award the contract for the construction
OF said bridge. and that by reason of said
conspiracy and fraudulent and false
statements, figures and representations,
the Council OF said city was induced to
and did awird the contract for the con.
struction of said Kuhrts street bridge to
the San Francisco Bridge Company, and
did, by resolution, direct and authorize
the Mayor of said city to sign the said
contract on behalf of said city.
That the persons conspiring, as here
matter set forth, are as follows: j c..
McMullen, M. Fl. Ledbetter, Fred
Eaton, George w. Colt, and in the man
ner following:
First.-Fred. Eaton, Surveyor of the
/ city of Los Angeles, on November l, 1856.
(Vol. 81, p. 653, City Rec.)
Reports--Plans for bridge in question:
thirty.foot highway, 100 pounds live
load, to cost $l2 500, including approach.
es. Adopted by Council and all Council
men.
That Fred. Eaton thereafter and at
divers times and places made false state
ments and representations, knowing such
statements to be false and calculated to
mislead and deceive, and with intent to
mislead and deceive, to the Council of
said city, to Councilmen of said city, and
to the Mayor of said city, and with the
intent and for the purpose of Influencing
the action of the said Council and Mayor
of said city, in wording and signing the
contract with the San Francisco Bridge
Company for the construction of said
bridge on Kuhrts street.
Second-J. G. McMullen, representing
the San Francisco Bridge Company, a
party to the contract for the construc.
ton OF the bridge at Kuhrts street, did
conspire with one M. FL. Ledbetter to
induce him for consideration to desist
from entering by bid to compete for the
construction of this bridge at Kuhrts
street.
That said McMullen did, at divers
times and places, and with intent te
mislead and deceive, make false anG
fraudulent statements and representa-
tions to the Council of said city and tt
the Councilmen of said city, with intent
and for the purpose of influencing the
action of said Council in making the
award ef the contract for the eonstruc'
tion of said bridge at Kuhrts street.
Third-George w. Colt, while about
to enter the employ of the San Fran
cisco Bridge Company, end assuming tt
represent the King Bridge Company en-
tered bid for the construct on OF thu
bridge ut Kuhrts street in the name OF
the King Bridge Company.
Mr.. Stearns has not sworn to thu
statements above, but he said he woult
do so to.day. He has made the allega
tions to number of people and he mus
now come forw ard and produce his evi
dence to substantiate the very seriou
charges made. The gentlemen accused
hear the reputation of being very honor
able. and they will certainly make al
effort to disprove the allegations of MI
, Stearns.
THE COUNTER CHARGE.